Pumping system



Sept. 16, 1' 930.

H. E. LA BOUR PUMPING SYSTEM 2 Shuts-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1927 Z n n 39w j 7 1 m m v AQmJ .U, n e HUM 2 H n? Patented Sept. 16, 1930- UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE PUMPING SYSTEM AppIicationfiled January 5, 1927.Serial No. 159,032.

My invention relates to pumping systems, generally termed gatheringsystems, for collecting or gathering liquid from a plurality oflocations by means of a single pump.

The system comprises a novel form of gathering valve which operates in anovel manner in co-ordination with the self-priming pump of my inventionsuch as is described and claimed in my prior Patent -No. 1,57 8,236.While any other form of self-priming pump such as a piston pump mightconceivably be employed in this combination, it is to be noted thatunder the circumstances in which this system is required to operate,namely, in mines, excavations and the like, a positive displacementpiston type of pump is less desirable.

In the removal of the small local pockets of Water which are constantlypresent in the advanced workings in mines, .it is customary to useseveral suction openings on one pump. The suction lines are often onethousand feet or more long and often there are six or more brancheswhich terminate at different levels so that while one opening may beonly a few feet below the pump, others may be fifteen I to twenty feetbelow the pump. The quantity of water flowing into the sumps, orpockets, is variable and it will readily .be seen that the pump willnaturally pump from the higher opening more rapidly and thatas soon asany one sump, or pocket, is exhausted the air fills the suction linewith the result that the pumping is stopped from all of the sumps.

To prevent this in previous systems the operators of the mines equipeach branch with a hand operated valve and then have men constantlycirculating through the workings and regulating the valves to. keep thepump in operation. I I

Many like situations arise where it is desired to gather fnomdifferentlevels, or the same level, liquids as they accumulate in tanks, pockets,sumps, or the like. Such sys- 5 terns have been proposed heretofore inwhich automatic valves were provided in the sumps, or pockets, but suchsystems have not been wholly successful in mine service where the wateris usually dirty and contains corrosive ingredients, and where from thecharacter of the lifts vacuums of, from twenty-five to twenty-eightinches, valve seat. Hence although much work has been done to try todevelop an automatic valve controlled by the water level for thisservice no satisfactory device is on the market.

According to the present invention I provide a valve which has a largevalve area opening in the direction of suction. This permits the valveto be used as a check-valve and provides ample operating force to openthe valve and to'hold it open.

I provide a float to control the valve, but do not necessarily dependupon the float to 7 provide the closing force of the, valve, in fact thelower position of the float does not necessarily correspond to the lowlevel of the liquid in the sump, or tank. The valve in the preferredform of my invention is not closed until the level has lowered to apoint where air is drawn into the intake port whereupon the valve isclosed and the full weight of the float may be applied to locking thevalve closed.

While this entry of air appears to be undesirable and would inconjunction with ordinary centrifugal pumps be likely to cause the pumpto become air-bound and to destroy the pump suction, Ijco-ordinate thisvalve with my self-priming pump, above referred to, which pump iscapable at all times of maintaining its own suction even if air isadmitted. Thus by co-ordinating the present valve with a centrifugalpump, capable of pumping air along with liquid, I provide a new andhighly advantageous system.

After the air has once entered the suction pipe through the valve, thevalve is closed and before it can again be opened, the level of liquidmust rise to a predetermined level whereupon the float unlocks the valveand suction opens it.

It will be seen that by the above mode of operation marginal operationis avoided, and wire drawing is prevented.

The mechanism which connects the float and the valve member is a lostmotion connection permitting the valve member at all times to operate asa check-valve. This conoften develop under the necting mechanism is aninter1ock between the valve and the float. The float prevents the valvefrom opening until the liquid reaches high level and the valve hindersthe float in dropping until the liquid has reached the minimum level.

This inter-locking relation is wholly new and a wide variety of meanswhich therein is the equivalent of the specific means herein disclosedmay be employed within my invention.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner ofconstructing and operating a system embodying my invention, I shalldescribe in connection with the accompanying drawings a specificembodiment of the same.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic layout of a system embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same showing theworking parts in elevation with the valve in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

- or sumps 1, are provided, these sumps being arranged to gather theliquid which it is desired to pump away. In each sump I arrange agathering valve 2 connected by branch pipes 33 to the suction main 4which suction main is connected to the intake of the selfpriming pump 5,the discharge pipe 6 of which leads to a remote point for dischargingthe liquid so gathered. The pump 5 is fully disclosed in my prior patentabove referred to, or it may embody the invention disclosed in myco-pending application Serial No. 7 51,210 filed November 21, 1924,which constitutes an improvement upon the pump shown in the patent. Thispump comprises a pump body 7 with an impeller therein which fitsrelatively closely in a channel formed therein. The pump has a dischargethroat 8 leading to a separator 9 where air and water are separated andit has a supplementary passageway 10 leading from the channel of thepump casing 7 to the interior of the separator 9 serving part of thetime, that is during the priming stage, as a return for liquid to primethe pump at a point posterior to the main discharge opening and servingat other times when liquid only is pumped as a supplementary dischargepassageway. pump is drivelrby an electric motor 11. The intake of thepump is connected directly to The a trap member 12 which contains asuitable screen as disclosed in the aforesaid patent. This pump iscapable of exhausting the air from the suction main and the pipes.connected thereto and establishing its vacuum.

operable in the system, and the resulting systen is capable of securingresults not heretofore obtainable.

The valve 2 comprises a two-part housing preferably made of castings.The lower part is substantially rectangular and oblong in shape, thisbottom part 15 having flanges 16 and the top part 17 which is of a shapesuit- .able to house the, float 18 in its swinging movement, likewisehas companion flanges 19, these flanges 16 and 19 being bolted togetherto enclose the valve mechanism therein. A valve body 20 which, in thepresent instance, is generally L-shaped is provided with bolting flanges2121 by which said valve body, or housing, is bolted to the endwall ofthe lower housing section 15.

The lower housing section 15 is provided with a number of relativelynarrow openings, or louvers topermit the entry of water and to excludecoarse material therefrom. Suitable legs, or bolting flanges 23, areformed along the sides of the bottom portion 15 so that the valve 2 maybe fastened down ifso desired.

The valve body or case 20 extends laterally in a horizontal directionand then upwardly terminating in a threaded socket 2 1 to receive thethreaded end of a suction pipe branch 3. Obviously, bolting flanges maybe substitutedfor the threaded socket, but in the present instance thepipe socket is more convenient since it permits the end of the valvebody to be projected through an opening in the end of the casing section15 from the inside thereof.

This valve body 20 has a vertical opening into which is seated a framemember 25, this frame member comprising a flange 26 overhanging the edgeof the opening in the top of the valve body and a downwardly'projectingcylindrical portion 27 the lower inner edges of which form a Ialve seatto cooperate with the lift or poppet valve 28. The upper part of theframe member 25 comprises a plurality of legs 29, in the presentinstance two in number, supporting a frame plate 30. This frame plate 30has a central hub, or hollow boss 31, in which is guided the stem 32 ofthe valve 28. This stem is fluted to reduce friction and likelihood offouling, and

at its upper end is then jointed as indicated at 33 to a short link 34which-in the present instance is shaped like an H, the upper arms of thelink receiving between them the end of a lever 35 and a long pivot pin36 being passed therethrough. This pivot pin 36 bears at its outer ends,adjacent the arms of the short link 34, a pair of rollers 3737. Thelever 35 is pivoted at its central portion on the pin 38 which pin issupported in the upper end of a post 39, said'post being formed integralwith the plate and the frame 25. The rear end of lever has acounterbalance 40 of a weight suitable for closing the valve 28 againstits seat and as will be explained later for assisting the free releaseof the float cam.

The float 18 is connected by a rod or lever 41 to swing about a pair ofpivot pins 4242 mounted in lugs 4343 integral with the plate 30. The rodor lever 41 is forked adjacent the pivot.

These forked ends comprise cam members 44 extending substantially atright angles in the present instance from the longitudinal portion ofthe lever.

The cam members 44 each lie under the rollers 37 and comprise twodifferent dwells 45 and 46 separated by a relatively sharp knee 47. Thetwo dwells 45 and 46 are distinctive in function, the positive dwell 45being of such a character as to serve to lock the valve 28 closed. Thatis to say the rise is that of a small angle or thin wedge so that therelatively small weight of the float 18 operating through the leverageof the arm 41 is able to hold the valve 28 closed against maximumsuction thereupon. As a matter of fact, I prefer to make this angle ofrise so small that the motion is irreversible. That is to say thetangent of the angle of rise is less than the coefficient of frictionbetween the roller '37 and the base of the cam dwell 45.

The negative cam dwell 46 is of an entirely different character. In factits function is to provide so steep a rise that the impact pressure ofliquid flowing against the valve 28 will tend to hold the float 18 inelevated position.

The rise of the cam'dwell 46 is such as to be reversible. It is soshaped as to give a quick drop after the roller 37 passes the knee 47.This is of service in permitting maximum valve opening with minimumfloat travel.

The operation of the valve heretofore described is as follows Assumingthat the parts are in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and thatthe pump 5 is being driven by the motor 11 holding a vacuum in the pipes34 and under the seat of the valve 28. The relatively large area ofthevalve 28 with the difference in 'pressures which exist thereuponprovides a large opening force which, however, is prevented fromoperating to open the valve 28 by the cam 44 the dwell 45 of which isthrust under the roller 37 by the weight of the float 18. The weight ofthe float working through the mechanical advantage secured by the lever41 and the cam dwell 45 is capable of closing and holding closed thevalve 28 even against the maximum difference of pressure established bythe pump. Assume now that the liquid level in the pocket 1 rises to therelease level line 49, indicated on Figure 2, this line corresponding toa level which will raise the float to a point where the knee 47 passesthe line of centers between the roller 37 and the pivot 42 of the cam44. In other words, this level 49 is the point where the cam relation ischanged. That is to say when the liquid raises the float to thisposition the valve 28 is unlocked and the valve 28 begins to open. Theroller 37 then operates on cam dwell 46 and the angle of this cam dwellis such that after the roller once passes over the knee 47 the fluidpressure on the valve 28 is able to throw the valve wide open andsimultaneously raise the float to a small lift above its previousposition, that is, above its release position. The float then occupiesthe high float position indicated by the line 50 on Figure 2. As amatter of fact the amount of raise between the line 49 and the line 50may be made as small as desired since all that is necessary is that thevalve 28 be permitted to be opened wide and to assume with respect tothe cam 44 a retarding relation. That is to say when the float has risento the position where it unlocks the valve 28, the valve 28 then movesto a position where it takes control of the float. The-weight 40 tendsat all times to raise the roller 37 and valve 28, but the impingement ofthe liquid flowing through the valve port against the face of the valve28 overcomes the pull of the weight 40 and retains control of the float18.

The pump then continues to draw liquid through the intake port of thevalve, holding the port in the position just described, the level of theliquid dropping. It will be observed that the top of the casing 17contains an opening 51 to prevent trapping of air or liquid in the domeformed by the top half of the cover or housing.

The plate 30 upon which the interlocking mechanism is mounted servesanother useful purpose when the valve 28 is open, that is, to preventthe drawing of air down into the valve passageway, such drawing of airbeing a familiar phenomenon where liquid is rapidly withdrawn through arelatively large port opening. The plate 30 prevents the formation of anair cone and the supporting post 29 prevents a swirling of the liquidwhich sets up such an air cone.

In the preferred form of the invention the float follows the level ofliquid down partially closing the valve until the knee 47 of the camengages the roller 37 on the return movement. At this point the knee ofthe cam afi'ords sufficient retarding force to permit the level to dropahead of the float until snflicient difierential issecured to permit theweight of the float to sna the knee over the roller 37 and close the vave 28 with a. snap action andv to lock the same closed. The liquid mayhave dropped to a point where the port is uncovered-and some air isdrawn into the suction mains. While-this is not desirable it does noharm in this system.

It is to be observed that the weight of the float so long as it issubmerged is less effective than when it is above the descendin "waterlevel in accordance with the law 0% Archimedes.

The closing of the valve entails two operations first, the release ofthe float, which is secured through the passing of the roller 37 to theknee 47 of the cam 44. After it is released by passing ovgr the knee 47it then brings the valve against its seat even against the force ofsuction of the pump.

It will now be seen that the valve 28 has a positional control over themechanism and vice versa the float 18 has a positional control over thevalve.

When the knee of the cam is against the roller, the float 18 assumes aposition as shown on the line 52, whereas the actual low level of liquid53 is below the low float position. I

As the liquid collects and rises above the low liquid level it willfinally come to a position where it tends to raise the float. During allthis time the valve 28 is shut tight. As the liquid further collects andraises the float the valve 28 may be cracked open and a slight amount ofliquid may pass therethrough. This, however, is inconsequential and evenif it is sufiicient to keep the liquid level from rising, air will notbe drawn into the valve intake for if this flowof liquid should continueto a point where the liquid level woulddrop below the low floatposition, the float would thereupon'lock' the valve completely closed.

It will be observed that when the valve 28- opens it opens suddenly andthereby tends 28 takes the entire pressure of the liquid in.

changing its direction. e

It is to be observed that while I have shown a lift valve and this ispreferable where the liquid to be handled is charged with foreign matteror non-fluid particles, a piston valve may be employed instead. With apiston valve it is possible to over-lap the knee 47 or substantlallyover-lapthe same, so that there is a minimumtendency to wire draw.

the liquid between changes of position.

where the valve is likely to be put in corro-' sive liquids or liquidsapt to contain matter which would foul the parts. Obviously,'the

position of the cam and the roller may be reversed within my invention.

In Figure 4 I have shown a modified form of. interlocking mechanism, thevalve 28 being connected through the link 34 to the lever 35 by the pinjoint 36. The float 18 is connected by a lever 41 to a double or forkedlever arm 55 pivoted on the pin 33, and having the extending arm 56. Therollers 57 engage the top surface of theplate '30 and being arranged topass a. critical position where the control of the interlock changesfrom the float '18 to the valve'28 and vice versa. In this case, thefloat 18 is pivoted on a moving pin 33 on the valve 28. 1

The rollers 57 may operate over a knee, or projection, in orderto securea quick throw over the critical neutral position as is the case with theknee 47. This'inefl'ect constitutes a reverse of the cam'and rollerabove referred to.

In Figure .5 I have shown the use of a toggle mechanism tosecure: theinterlocked relation between the float and the valve. In this case, thefloat lever 41 is connected to a forked member 55' the ends of which arepivoted on 'pins 42 mounted in the lugs 43.

the end of the-stem 32 of Arms 60 integral with the fork member 55extendupwardly and their pins 61 move in the slotted ends of links 62.The link 62 v is pivoted on the pin 36 which pin is also connected tothe short link 34' that in turn is pinned to the upper end of the valvestem. The slot in the link 62 permits the independent operation ofthevalve 28 as a check valve.

The operation of the forms shown in Figures 4 and 5 is broadly like thatshown in Figure 2. a

- It is to be observed that the valve of my invention has the capabilityof operating in two distinct manners.-

4 Assume that the pressure exerted by the pump upon the valve 28.isrelatively so great as to hold the float in raised position regardlessof the liquid-level. Then the liquid level will fall to such a pointthat air will be admitted through the valve which will release a largepart'of the pressure tending to hold the valve 0 on with the result thatthe float will fall sud enly and lock the valve closed.

to its-lowest position Now assume that the pressure exerted by the pumpupon the valve is such that the float follows the liquid level downuntil the knee on the cam is reached. Then the float Will be retardeduntil a force differential is attained by further drop of the level,whereupon the cam passes the knee and locks the valve.

The first above described condition tends to prevail in the upper valveshown in Fig. 1 and the second condition tends to prevail on the lowervalves in Fig. 1.

I do not intend to be limited to the details shown or described. 1

I claim: i

1. In combination, a valve body having an inlet port, a check valvetherefor opening with normal flow and checking upon reverse flow, afloat and an interlocking connection.

between the valve and the float.

2. In combination, a valve body having an inlet port, a check valvetherefor, a float and an interlocking connection between the valve andthe float, said interlocking connection comprising a lost motionconnection which permits the valve to operate at all times to preventreturn flow of liquid through the said port independently of the float.

3. In combination, a valve body having an inlet port, a check valvetherefor, a float, an interlock between the float and the valve, saidinterlock being operated by the float upon the attainment of high levelof liquid to release the valve and the float thereupon being held inraised position by the valve operating through the inter-lock until thelevel of liquid is lowered to a predetermined point, the weight of thefloat being then operative through the inter-lock to lock the valveclosed. and means tending at all times to close the valve.

4. In combination, a valve body having an inlet port, a plate overlyingsaid port, a check valve for said port having a stem extending throughsaid plate, said check valve opening with normal flow and checking up onreverse flow, a float and an interlocking connection between the floatand said stem, said connection being mounted on said plate.

5. In aliquidgathering system the combination of a downwardly extendingsuction pipe for liquid terminating in a valve port, a lift check valvefor said port opening in the direction of flow produced by suction andclosing by actionofthe column of liquid in the pipe, a float andirreversible actuating means connecting the float and valve to permitthe float to move the valve to closed position and to prevent thesuction on the valve from actuating the float.

6. In combination, a valve body having an inlet port, a check valve forsaid port, a float, means controlled by the float for locking the valvein closed position and means controlled by the valve for holding thefloat in raised position.

7. In a device of the class described, a valve body, an inlet port intothe same a check valve for said port opening inwardl means to apply saidvalve to its seat, a oat and means connecting the valve to the float,said means serving to hold the float in raised position while the valveis held open by the flow of liquid therethru.

8. In combination, a valve body having an inlet port of relatively largearea, a float, a valve having a stem, a connection between said valvestem and said float, said connection having a position in which theimpact pressure of the liquid on the valve holds the float in raisedposition.

9. In combination, a valve body havin an inlet port, a check valve forsaid port, a cat for operating the valve, a connection between the floatand the valve including means for permitting the valve to hold the floatin raised position.

10. In combination, a valve body having an inlet port,acheckvalve forsaid port for liquid flow, a float for operating the valve, a connectionbetween the float and Valve, said liquid flow being adapted to exert apressure upon said valve to cause the same to hold the float in raisedposition, and means exerting less force than the flow pressure tendingto close the valve. 7

11. In combination, a valve body having an inlet port, a check valvetherefor, a float having a high level position and a low level position,the inlet port being located below said low level position, meanscontrolled by impingement pressure of liquid flowing against the valvefor raising the float into high level position and holding it in raisedposition, said 1floatdbeing released upon lowering of the 12. Incombination, a valve body having an inlet, a check valve therefor, afloat having three positions, a lost motion operating connection for thevalve and float, the three positions comprising first a release positioncorresponding to level of liquid where the float permits the valve toopen, second, a raised position to which the float is drawn aboverelease level by opening of the valve, said float being held in saidposition by impingement of liquid on the valve, and third, a loweredposition into which the float drops by its own weight, said positionbeing above low level of the liquid, the weight of the float in said.lowered position operating said connection to lock the valve closed.

13. In combination, a valve body having an air inlet port, a check valvetherefor, said valve being adapted to be impinged by inflowing liquid, afloat, means under the control of the float at its low level positionfor locking the valve in closed position, the imp ngementpressure onsaid valve holding through the valve inlet port.

14. In combination, a valve body having an inlet port, a check valvetherefor having a' relatively large area exposed to suction when closedand subject to impingement of inflow- 1 ing liquid when open, lockingmeans for locking the valve closed against suction and a float foractuating said locking means, said float operating at high level onlyfor unlocking said locking means to permit suction to'open said valve,said valve when open being held open by impingement pressure of liquidand thereby holding the float in raised position, means tending to closethe valve, said means being overcome by the impingement pressure ofliquid on the valve.

15. In a-system of the class described, a gathering valve adapted to beconnected to suction pipe of a pump, said valve having a valve member, afloat'controlling' the valve member, said valve being held open byimpact of the liquid drawn thereinto vuntil air enters the same. H

16. In a system of the class described, a gathering valve adapted to beconnected to suction pipe of a pump, said valve having a valve member, afloat controlling the valve member, said valve being held open until airenters thesame, and means for closing the valve member When air entersthe suction pipe.

applying the valve to its seat, the valve being held in open position bythe flow of liquid through the inlet port, a float and a lost motioninterlocking'connection between the float and the valve, said connectionhaving two positions, one position permitting the valve when in openposition to hold the float in raised position, and the other positionpermitting the float when in lowered position 10' bring the value intoclosed position.

.18; In combination, a' valve body having an inlet port, a checkvalve'therefor, means for applying the valve to its seat, the valve bein th ough'the inlet port, a float and a lost motion interlockingconnection between the float and the valve, said connection having twopositions, one position permitting the valve when in open position tohold the float in raised position, and the other position permitting thefloat when in lowered position to bring the valve into closed position,said lost motion connection'permitting the. float when in loweredposition to lock the valve in closed position.

19. In combination, a valve body. having an inlet port, a check valvetherefor adapted when opened to be impinged by inflowing liqcombination,a valve body having an inlet port, a check valve therefor, means for i"an inlet port, a valve for controlling sai held in open position by theflowof liquid uid, means for applying the valve to its seat, a float andmeans controlled by low level. position of the float for locking thevalve closed, said means being restrained by the impingement ofinflowing liquid upon the valve when the float is in raised position.

20. Incombination, a valve body having an inlet port opening upwardly,said. body providing a passage extending laterally with respect to saidinlet port, a valve for controlling said inlet port, said valve beingadapted to be subjected to the diflerence in pressure between the insideand the outside of said v valve body and. to be moved to open'positionby such dilierence in pressure, locking means normally holding the valveclosed and a float for actuating said locking means, said floatv beingoperated on a predetermined level for unlocking said' locking -mechanismto permit the valve to open, said locking mecha--.

nism having means permitting the valve when w I wide 0 en to hold thefloat in raised position.

21. n combination, an L shaped valve body 7 having a suction connectionand having an inlet port facing upwardly and. adapted normally toreceive liquid, a valve closing said inlet port, a plate overlying saidinlet port to prevent the entry of air until the level of liquid dropsbelow the same and float controlled mechanism mounted-on said plate forcontrolling said valve.

ing upwardly, a valve for controlling said port, said valve .being'adapted to move into the corner of said angular body and to be subjectedto the impingement of liquid flowing into the valve body through saidinlet-port, a plate overlying said inlet port and providing a guide forsaid valve, means tending .to' close the valve and means mounted on saidplate for locking said valve against opening and a float controllingsaid means.

23. In combination, a valve body havin 22. In combination, an angularvalve body. having an. inlet port in one-leg thereof factions', a floatassociated with said valveand having two operative positions, the valvewhen in its operative closed position being adapted to be subjectedtosuction for opening the; same, interlocking means between the float andthe valve having two operative positions, one of said operatingpositions corresponding to lowered position of the float and. closedposition of the valve, and serving in said position'to lock the valveclosed by the weight of the float, said interlocking mechanism havingother cam means in the other operative position corresponding to openedvalve and raised float, said-valve when open being subjected to theimpact pressure of. liquid flowing through the valve to hold the floatinraised position through the interlocking mechanism in said secondposition.

24. Incombinatiomavalve housing having valve housing, said check valvehaving a stem projecting through said frame member, cam means pivoted onthe frame member, and a cam follower connected to the upper end of thevalve stem, a float connected to the cam member, said cam member havingtwo dwells, one of which is operated by the float to lock the valve inclosed position, the other of Which is operated by the valve to hold thefloat in raised position.

26. In combination, a valve housing having an inlet port, a frame membermounted over the port, a check valve for the inlet port, said checkvalve having a stem projecting through the frame, a link connected tothe upper end of the stem, a lever connected to the opposite end of thelink, means for said lever tending to apply the valve to its seat overthe inlet port, said Valve being free at all times to close under backflow through the inlet port, cam means pivoted on the frame and a-camfollower connected to the upper end of the valve stem and a floatconnected to the cam member.

27. In combination, a closed housing comprising a base, a cover for thesame. a valve body bolted to the base and having a suction connectionextending to the outside of the housing opening with normal flow ofliquid into the inlet port and checking upon reverse flow, said bodyhaving an inlet port, a.

check valve therefor, a frame member overlying said inlet port, a floatcontained within the cover member and inter-locking mecha-:

nism connecting the float and check valve and mounted on said framemember.

28. In combination, a valve body having an inlet port, a checkvalve forsaid port opening inward and closing on outward flow, said va ve havinga stem, a pivoted float arm bearing a float, a pair of coacting membersone of which is pivotally connected to said stem and the other isrigidly connected to the pivoted float arm, said members havingengagement between them substantially in line between then mountingpivots when the float is in lowered position, and adapted to haveengagement substantially out of line with the mounting pivots when thefloatvis in raised position, the check valve being adapted to be held ininward open position by the flow pressure of the li uid drawn throughthe inle to exert sufiicient holding force through pivoted on the framemember, a cam said members when they are out of line with the mountingpivots to hold the float in raised position until the flow pressuredecreases due to the entry of air into the inlet port.

29. In combination a lift valve, a float hav' ing an upper position anda lower position, connecting means between the float and valve saidconnecting means affording a leverage between the float and valve whichvaries With the position of float, there being a relatively sharp changeof leverage as the float approaches its upper position to give the valvea greater mechanical advantage said leverage providing the float withsufiicient mechanical advantage to permit the float in its lowerposition to hold the valve closed against suction.

30. A float controlled gathering check valve having an inlet and anoutlet, said valve being adapted to have a difference of pressuremaintained between the inlet and. the outlet, said valve comprising avalve member held open by liquid flowing through the valve and floatcontrolled means for closing the valve member only when air passesthrough the valve.

In witness whereof, I hereunder subscribe my name this 29th day ofDecember, 1926.

HARRY E. LA BOUR.

I I CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION. 1375860. G ted eptember 16, 1930.16"

HENRY nrLA BoUn; v

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page, 5,lines 90 and 91, claim 10, for "inlet port, a check valve for said portfor liquid flow" read inlet port for liquid flow, a check valve for saidport; page'6, line 118, claim 23, for "operating" tread operative; page7, lines 41 to 43, claim 27, strike out the words "opening with normalflow of liquid into the inlet port and checking upon reverse flow" andinsert the same to follow after the word "therefor" in line 44, sameclaim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thesecorrections therein that. the same may conform to the record of the'casein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of October, A. D. 1930.

M. J.- Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

cngmicam or CORRECTION. I Patent 9 GrantcdjSeptember I6, 1930,15

nannv in. LA noun.

It is hereby certified that in Certificate of Correction issued October28,- 1930. the name of the patentee was erroneously given as ,"Henry'lL-La Bour", whereas said'name should have been given as Harry E. La" Boureand that fthe said Certificate should'be read-.withthis correctiontherein thatt'he same may conform to the record of the office,

Signed and sealedthis 7thdayof"April, A; D. 1931;;

(Seal) 1 v A'eting nf-faults.

